WOKINGHAM CC made a winning start on their return to Home Counties Premier League cricket – but came away from their 45-run victory at Chesham with 0 points in Division Two, writes Richard Ashton.

It looked like being a dream beginning for last season’s Thames Valley League champions after a hard-fought success, but they came away with nothing as they had failed to register Oratory School and Berkshire paceman Jack Winterbottom.

Wokingham suffered a nightmare start after being asked to bat at The Meadow – debutant James Bird trapped lbw by Harvind Dhillon having joined the Oaks from Falkland in the winter.

However, Stuart Parsons (60) and former Middlesex and Gloucestershire star Dan Housego (46) put on 109 until the latter fell to Matt Rance.

Michael Bates fell for a duck and a middle-order collapse left the visitors in trouble at 147-7 until Ian Muirden and Sheriyar Ahmed provided some useful lower order runs to help their side to 189 all out.

A Bird run out and two early wickets for Lewis Sharp left Chesham in trouble at 18-3, and when two more fell the home side were 61-5.

However, an excellent innings from Robin Pritchard (65) brought them back into the contest, a 61-run partnership with Todd Bamber ending when the latter was run out by Housego.

From 122-6 the wheels came off for the hosts, though, with spin pair Ahmed (2-32) and Bird (2-9) enjoying themselves and Sharp (3-24) also grabbing another as Chesham subsided to 144 all out.

Wokingham will hope to get off the mark when they welcome Berkshire rivals Datchet to Sadlers End this coming Saturday (11.30am).

In Division 2b of the Thames Valley League, the game between Thatcham Town and Wokingham 2nds was cancelled without a ball being bowled due to an unfit pitch.

Wokingham 5ths lost by five wickets at Kidmore End 3rds in Division 9a.

Glyn Clements top scored with 30 as the Oaks fought their way to 182, but despite Jake Staples claiming 3-32, Kidmore were able to reach their target in 38 overs.

Openers Luke Gray (40) and Devinder Udeen (36) set up the win with a partnership of 68.